This is a collection of articles dealing with organic gardening, ecology, environmental restoration, news items of interest, travel and just about anything else I find of interest and willing to share with others around the globe. - ENJOY!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Swedish Taco Night Friday: The Incredibly Easy to make Taco Salad

Credit: 1550's Pub Style Restaurant

Typical large Taco Salad one sees at most restaurants across the states. This will be unfamiliar to most Europeans, especially in the north. When I lived in England in the late 1970s, the word/term 'Salad' period was almost a taboo word.

The above picture is of a Taco Salad found at most Mexican restaurants in the states. A giant flower tortilla deep fried in oil to form a bowl for which to insert all manner of Mexican goodies within. The ingredients of course consist of almost everything else that goes into a normal salad with the addition however of some extra ingredients to make it more Mexican. Starting off forst of all with that Flour Tortillas bowl. Most restaurants purchase them already made. But I actually found a video which has no audio, but the visual speaks volumes for itself. It very easily shows how to make the flour tortilla bowl with ruffled edges all from scratch. For Swedes here reading, the first thing you do is purchase the largest flour tortillas you can purchase at your local ICA Store. Then follow the video. It's that easy!

As you can see, the ingredients are so simple that even a child could do this and what's kool is, it is really fast and uncomplicated. Lettuce , Tomatoes , Red Onion, of course are the main ingredient. The lettuce obviously gives it it's crispy texture. So you start with basic salad ingredients and go from there. Corn chips crumbled into the mix not only give more crunchy texture, but also that corn taco taste. Your choice of meat is obvious as well. Whatever you prefer and how your want to prepare and season it. Choose either Pinto or Kidney Beans or both, it's up to you. The Cucumber is a Swedish add on. All other things add as you want them. The Bell PeppersSweet Red French Dressing, Salsa, Guacamole and Sour Cream are last option toppings as you wish. Same with Sweet Corn and black olives, add as wanted or needed.

Ultimately I think anyone can do this. It did cross my mind however than Swedes can purchase those Santa MariaMini-Tub Taco Shells. Then you can have bite size salads or mini versions of the Mexican Tostada or Tostado which ever term you wish. This is not a tough recipe to follow and you can change it any way to suit your own personal needs. Now if you are having family and friends over for a meal, by all means make the spice heat scale as neutral as possible. For all you people who want that nuclear fire experience ? That's what the hot sauces are for. Putting these choices on the table in front of your guests allows them to choose and therefore any bad burning sensation is on them, not you !

5 comments:

Timeless, I've got a couple of questions for you. Our friends, who live in Pinyon Flats, came to dinner at the cabin we rented over the weekend in Idyllwild. Barb mentioned that occasionally she hears rumbling deep down in the earth there at Pinyon...could that be from the fact that Pinyon sits on a fault line? Could water be surging underneath? We are looking to buy a 2 acre parcel about 1 block away from hers. It is covered with old pinyons and the owner says it is from the underground water. Apparently he had NO trouble hitting water for his well, at 200 feet, but he went down anyway to 300...just curious. Also, why would there be lights up on Santa Rosa mountain at Pinyon? There aren't any roads up there...trying to debunk the "Oh, it must be aliens!" theories!!!!Thanks~Cheryl Ann~~LOVE your Mexican meal ideas! Fortunately, we have a couple of fabulous Mexican meal places here in Palm Desert!

Actually the whole entire region is under faultlines, On the other side of Coachella Valley is the famous San Andreas Fault and on your Pinyon side is the San Jacinto fault line which runs all the way down to Ocotillo and south.

As far as water and property, the closer you get to Deep Canyon the less likely you will find water close to the surface. Moving towards Spring Crest and Palm Canyon to the west and more than likely you will find water much easier. I'm not exactly sure where your property area is, but Pinyons don't necessarily indicate water is close to the surface. Look for Riparian type species in the area, that will tell far more about water's closeness to the surface.

Now as far as lights up there, it could be campers, but also there is a rather large log cabin up there which is hard to get to and it is inhabited by religious retreating Nuns. Not sure why, but that is who reside or always did live at that cabin. There is a point up on that Santa Rosa forestry road where you can see the cabin on your left as you drive up, but I can't explain where the road is to get there.

Mexican food is a life saver for me living here outside of my natural habitat. *smile*

Thank you so much for the info~ My husband actually found the exact parcel on the Riverside County website (it took him 1 1/2 hours...) and a fault line goes right through the property~ ACK! He made homemade chili and cornbread (he mixed it half and half...beer and water...) for dinner last night...YUMMY!

Oh, and the fault line is EXACTLY where the water runs through the property. Apparently you CANNOT alter, in any way, the flow of water up there in Pinyon. This parcel is two parcels north of the campground there at Pinyon Flats...on the dirt road called "Indio Blvd.". Our son's friend bought an old house on the paved part of Indio Blvd. It was built in 1927 (1929?) and he is slowly rebuilding it as he is a carpenter.